Coffin Plate Collection Private collection of over 400 coffin plates with names of ancestors plus birth and death dates

Olive Tree Newsletter

JOIN the FREE Olive Tree Genealogy Newsletter. Be the first to know of genealogy events and freebies. Find out when new genealogy databases are put online. Get tips for finding your elusive brick-wall ancestor.

A mother's heart is ever filled with kind wishes, and sincere prayers, in
behalf of dear children. Her mind is impressed with deep concern and
solicitude, whilst thinking of the children of her bosom, one by one, and
then collectively of them all, in their serious relations in life. She
embraces them all with tenderest fondness, and her heart beats with
thrilling and indescribible emotions of love and affection for every one.
And whilst absorbed in silent meditation over her children – as a mother
and a father frequently are, by day and by night – they are not only
called up, before her mind's eye, in their respective situations in life,
one after another, however distant they may be; but they are also ranged
before her mental vision as regards the past, the present, and the
future. Thinking of the present condition, of what they now are, a
mother casts a retrospective view of the past, still hovering with fond
recollection over their helpless, innocent state of infancy, when she, in
her cares, and anxieties, and sleepless nights, alone could sooth and
cherish them, and next to God, preserve their life. Then she looks
forward with a wishful eye into the future, anxious to lift the
mysterious veil of futurity, their to behold her children, if this were
possible, through all the shifting scenes of time to their journey's end.
Yes, this it is, the future condition of her children, which calls forth
the deepest concern of an affectionate mother. Whilst her heart
overflows in silent prayer with the sincerest gratitude to God, for past
protection, and blessings, and favors, she implores His divine aid and
guidance for the future. For, as time imperceptibly, but speedily, moves
onward, adding to the number of years one after another in rapid
succession, hastening the parents to the goal of earthly existence, and
the children into active life, she often secretly asks: what will become
of this my son, of that dear daughter, – what will be the condition of
them all, in some years hence, when I, perhaps, am no more! Then the
breast heaves with increased affection and solicitude for them, and her
soul earnestly longs to tender direction, admonition, and warning to
their youthful hearts. These considerations and promptings of the heart,
have called forth this epistle, intended as a "new year's wish."
To exchange congratulations, kind gifts, and good wishes, at the
beginning of a new year, is a custom which has become sacred by age; it
is still observed extensively among nations, and not without happy
effects. While the incense of gratitude arises from the altar of the
heart, the hand of charity and benevolence is extended to the needy and
the destitute, when this custom is observed in its proper meaning. The
hungry is fed, the naked is clothed, the forsaken is sheltered. Parents
rejoice and counsel the hearts of their children; ministers of the gospel
impress their people with a sense of God’s goodness and mercy, of the
brevity of life, and the importance of time, urging and persuading them,
in holy eloquence, to a proper use of life, and time, with all the
blessings, as pilgrims to a world on high.

But I must return to you, my dear son, wishing you a happy new year, –
may you commence this next year in the full enjoyment of health, and
under circumstances, every way calculated to render your situation happy
and blessed. God grant in his mercy, that you may live to see the close
of this year, and many more to come, if this be consistent with his holy
will. May you be enabled, by His grace, to spend every day of it
profitably to yourself and in the service of Jesus Christ. May this year
be crowned with a full measure of heaven’s rich blessings to your body
and soul. May you increase in knowledge, virtue, and holiness, and grow
in favor with God and men. These, dear Samuel, are my sincerest wishes
and most ardent prayer to God for you.

I now add a few suggestions and directions to your careful consideration.
You are now engaged in a course of studies preparatory to the gospel
ministry. I trust you will never lose site of this object, for which you
were sent to an institution of learning and mental and moral training.
But having that object in view, you ought to improve with diligence and
perseverance all the means afforded you for the accomplishment of it.
Without exertion & perseverance no great end can ever be accomplished.
Hence we find many persons of careless, indolent habits, who have, in
various stations in life, for want of exertion and energy of action, in
the midst of all the means and facilities that could be afforded, at last
been utterly ruined, becoming unhappy themselves, and useless to others.
You should, therefore, faithfully improve your present time with all the
opportunities, and means, which are so liberally afforded you for the
obtaining of that important end, for which they are designed. This is
your seed-time; the harvest will follow. If you cultivate your mind and
heart, enriching them with knowledge and virtue, and holiness, you will
prepare for yourself a rich harvest in a happy and useful life. Devote
to this purpose, every day of this new year, and with the blessing of
God, you will succeed and prosper.

A College life, however, is attended with many temptations and alurements
to sin, which are sometimes not so easily overcome. And even he, who may
think that he stands most safely & securely, without being constantly in
his guard, is apt to fall in an unhappy hour. My dear son, you are far
removed from your affectionate parents and from their immediate care and
direction. You ought therefore to be the more careful and deliberate in
all your actions and conduct, and the more prudent and guarded in the
selection of your friends & companions. Recollect, that while you are
cultivating your mind, and storing it with useful knowledge, you ought,
with no less care & diligence, improve your heart, amend your life, and
endeavor to grow in grace daily. For knowledge alone, without piety of
heart, and blessings of life, will never make man truly happy and useful.
I entreat you, therefore, to watch and pray, and to live in constant
communion with God our Saviour, whose grace and strength alone are
sufficient, to support and preserve you amidst all the trials and
temptations of life. Rise every morning, during this new year, with
pious resolutions not to depart from your path of christian duties, and
to live, and act, and think, in accordance with the will of your heavenly
Father. Have this important truth ever deeply impressed upon your mind;
that even in the most secret hours, when no human eye beholds you, the
holy eye of God is upon you and that you are in his sacred presence.
This will be the best preservation from all temptations and sinful
alurements whether arising from within, or approaching from without.
Harm and injure no man; treat all, with whom you meet, with kindness and
affection. Wherever you can perform a charitable act, or bestow a good
favor, do it with cheerfulness. Above all, esteem, love, and obey your
teachers. That the God of all grace be with you, keep & preserve you,
and grant you in every respect, a happy new year, is the sincere prayer
of your affectionate mother.

Mother has sent you five dollars & this letter, for a New Year’s gift,
and hopes you will apply it to some good use. Father would have sent you
one but he has none at present. We all give our love to you & all the
friends.

Mary M. Giesy

Wishing you had an ancestor photograph? Check out the 1800s photographs and antique photo albums on Lost Faces. There are over 2,500 photos in this growing genealogy collection

Notes: This letter is one of the 800+ in my collection. I've
purchased most of the letters on eBay over the last three years. I don't
have much information on thre family, just what I found on
familysearch.com:
Samuel Hensel Giesy (b. 1826) was son of John Ulrich Giesy and [Mary]
Magdalene Hensel. In 1851, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he married Anna
Bella Smith (1829-1855). They apparently resided in Lancaster, Fairfield
County, Ohio.